A fresh consultation on the future of Northern Devon has been welcomed by rail campaigners, who say it could help strengthen the case for restoring passenger services on two former railway lines.
Railfuture’s Devon & Cornwall branch has welcomed the launch of the first public consultation on a new joint Local Plan for Northern Devon, which will replace the current plan covering 2011 to 2031 adopted by North Devon and Torridge district councils in 2018.
The organisation said it was encouraged that updated supporting documents highlight opportunities to improve rail connectivity, including ambitions to reinstate passenger services on the Bideford to Barnstaple railway line and the Lynton to Barnstaple railway line.
Tim Steer, chair of Railfuture’s Devon & Cornwall branch, said: “This opening consultation is our opportunity to contribute views on what we see as the key issues, on what to include in the local plan and on how to engage with people.
“The consultation is backed by an updated Baselining Evidence report, which includes a ‘SWOT’ analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.
“I am especially pleased to see that a paragraph has been included in the updated Baselining Evidence report to highlight where the current Local Plan 2011-31 supports opportunities for improving rail connectivity, with references to ambitions for reinstating passenger rail services on both the Bideford-Barnstaple railway line and the Lynton-Barnstaple railway line.”
The consultation invites residents to comment on what they value about Northern Devon, the area’s key issues, opportunities for future growth and the best ways to involve as many people as possible in preparing the plan.
Tim added: “This is everyone’s chance to say how the new local plan could support communities to grow and thrive.”
He said he was also pleased that the scoping consultation states the councils will work with infrastructure providers to prepare an Infrastructure Delivery Plan identifying the facilities needed to support future growth.
Tim said: “I am further encouraged to read that the Infrastructure Delivery Plan will be informed by a range of separate studies including on transport.”
The consultation closes on Tuesday, August 11. The timetable for preparing the new Local Plan indicates a further consultation on its proposed content and supporting evidence is expected to take place in early 2027.
Further information about Railfuture’s Devon & Cornwall branch is available at www.railfuture.org.uk.
